Planning a golf trip to Europe in 2024? You might need to fill out some new digital paperwork first, even if you’re a U.S. citizen used to traveling about the European Union visa-free.
The official travel site of the EU announced this week that starting in 2024, visitors from more than 60 countries that are visa-exempt will need to apply for entry to 30 countries through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The applicable visas will not be physical paperwork, instead being digitally linked to a visitor’s passport.
Notably, the announced program for 2024 does not apply to the Republic of Ireland, probably the most-visited of EU countries for U.S. players on golf trips. (For anyone who was busy beating balls on the range for several years and missed it, popular golf destinations England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are no longer part of the EU and are not part of this new application process.)
U.S. nationals currently don’t need to fill out such an application, but that changes for any trips starting Jan. 1. The EU said ETIAS approval normally will take just a few minutes but can stretch out several days or longer, so it’s best to apply as early as possible to avoid any headaches or missed tee times.
Applications will be provided through an official website and app, and travelers will need to provide their passport information or another document to which visas can be affixed. The application process has not yet opened.
The processing fee is 7 euros, currently less than $8. Children under 18 years old and seniors over 70 can apply for free. Approval allows 90 days in the selected country over a 180-day period, and approval is good for three years or the expiration of the passport to which it is registered, whichever comes first. Parents and legal guardians can apply on behalf of children.
The program is similar to one the U.S. requires of many international visitors through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
ETIAS approval also will be required for citizens of Canada, Great Britain, Australia and dozens of other countries. For a complete list of countries whose citizens will need approval, click here for the official announcement, which includes several exemptions.
The counties that will require an ETIAS are listed below, as provided by the official travel site of the European Union:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland